The recently published Digital Quality of Life (DQL) Index 2020 by SurfShark, an online privacy solutions provider, sheds light on the state of internet quality globally. The study presents a dismal picture for India, which ranks among the lowest countries in terms of internet quality.
Understanding Digital Quality of Life (DQL)
The DQL index covers global research on the quality of digital wellbeing in 85 countries, which make up approximately 81% of the world’s population. The report assesses each country based on five fundamental pillars – internet affordability, internet quality, electronic infrastructure, electronic security, and electronic government. These pillars are underpinned by 12 key indicators that interrelate to provide a comprehensive measure of the overall digital quality of life.
Exploring the Relationship Between GDP and DQL
While there is a noticeable correlation between the country’s GDP per capita and its DQL score, several exceptions defy this relationship. For instance, 13 countries including Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, and China, despite having lower GDP per capita than expected, exceed their anticipated DQL scores. They achieve this by providing exceptional levels of e-security and more affordable internet connectivity. Ironically, countries like Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, despite their high GDP per capita, fall short in delivering an improved digital wellbeing due to poor Internet quality and e-security.
Affordability and Internet Infrastructure’s Role in Digital Wellbeing
One major driving force behind achieving better DQL is the affordability of the Internet, though it has slightly less correlation to DQL than the other listed pillars. In contrast, the quality and stability of the internet infrastructure have proven crucial during the pandemic, with video conferences becoming a norm. However, during the initial phase of lockdowns, almost half of the countries surveyed experienced worsened mobile internet and broadband speeds.
Global and Indian Rankings
The global rankings reveal that European countries lead in providing high-quality digital wellbeing, with Denmark leading the pack among 85 countries. Out of the top 10, seven are European nations, with Scandinavian countries demonstrating superior performance. Outside Europe, Canada, Japan, South Africa, and New Zealand lead in their respective continents.
India, on the other hand, lags at rank 57 out of the 85 countries studied. Despite ranking 9th in internet affordability – even ahead of countries like the UK, US, and China – India lags severely in terms of internet quality (78th place) and electronic infrastructure (79th place).
Government Initiatives to Boost Digital Quality of Life in India
To combat these challenges and enhance the digital wellbeing of its citizens, the Indian government has launched several initiatives. These include the Digital India Programme, which is aimed at preparing India for a knowledge-based transformation and the e-Kranti National e-Governance Plan. Other initiatives such as DigiLockers, BHIM App, Pradhan Mantri Gramin Digital Saksharta Abhiyan, and Bharat Net programme aim at digitizing official documents, enabling digital payments, making citizens digitally literate, and establishing an optical fibre network respectively.